The Custodial Detention of Children and the Youth Justice Review & A New Vision for the Education of Children and Young People in Custody

This seminar will consider the findings and recommendations relating to the custodial detention of children put forward in ‘A Review of the Youth Justice System in Northern Ireland’, published by the Department of Justice (2011). It will examine the Youth Justice Review Team’s recommendations within the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, previous investigations into the detention of children by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, children’s experiences of custody documented by Include Youth and the wider literature on the use of custody for children. Based on this evidence, potential developments in relation to legislation, policy and practice to enhance the realisation of the Review Team’s recommendations and the protection of children’s rights will be highlighted. [Policy Briefing] [Powerpoint Presentation]

Dr Tracy Irwin & Dr John McCord (UU): A New Vision for the Education of Children and Young People in Custody

Education is a fundamental right of all children and young people and although education within custody is widely accepted as a vital medium for pro-social modelling, rehabilitation and reducing recidivism (Schuller, 2009), the educational opportunities for young people in custody can be limited and basic rights to education are often not realized (CJINI, 2011a, 2011b; Moore, 2011). This seminar will argue that education should be re-conceptualised beyond the traditional approaches to teaching and learning and that innovative approaches to pedagogy, including the use of ICT and identification of informal learning patterns and personal interests, offer an unprecedented opportunity to improve approaches and integrate active learning in custodial environments (Irwin and Pike 2012) in order to re-orientate learners and enhance attainment and employment prospects. [Policy Briefing] [Powerpoint Presentation]